Do you ever recall something in your past - whether triumphant or terrible and it seems to sabotage your thoughts? The way we think about past memories matters. It can lead to bitterness or worship of the Lord. It can lead to despair or thankfulness to God. It can be a stumbling block, or a launching pad into a deeper trust of the Lord. Today I am sharing three things we can do to prove faithful with past memories.
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Proving Faithful with Past Memories
The way we think about past memories matters.
It can lead to bitterness or worship of the Lord.
It can lead to despair or thankfulness to God.
It can be a stumbling block, or a launching pad into a deeper trust of the Lord.
Now past memories don't always come with baggage, but sometimes they can be snare to us, limiting our ability to enjoy the present or the future. Whenever we think about the past we can prove faithful by thinking about our memories in ways that honor the Lord and are a blessing to our souls.
The battle with past memories is a battle in the mind.
For as he thinketh in his heart, so is he: Eat and drink, saith he to thee; but his heart is not with thee. – Proverbs 23:7(KJV)
This proverb reminds us that we can be saying one thing, but our heart is in a completely different place.
How we think matters.
How do we prove faithful with past memories?
First, when we think of past memories we need to remember that God is our Sovereign Father.
I think we need to remember that Memories are history. They are part of God's story that He wrote for his glory and a purpose and your good. It may never make it in a history book, or a memoir, or a biography, but they were moments designed by God. Really past memories are looking back at the Sovereign work of God.
God's sovereign hand is over all things that happen to you. And we cannot always see, understand or know their purposes.
When thinking of our past, we must put those memories through the lens of truth - scriptures like Romans 8:28-29 28 And we know that for those who love God all things work together for good, for those who are called according to his purpose. For those whom he foreknew he also predestined to be conformed to the image of his Son, in order that he might be the firstborn among many brothers.
Second way to prove faithful when thinking of past memories, is to focus on God's provision for you during that time.
What a faith building exercise to look back and say - this happened, but look how God _____. how did he provide? Maybe you didn't see it as provision back then, or maybe it's not the provision you wanted, but did he provide? Yes. And how did he? Use past memories to build your trust in God by thanking him for how he provided.
Psalm 77:11 says, "I shall remember the deeds of the Lord, surely I will remember your wonders of old.
Psalm 68:19 says, "Blessed be the Lord, who daily bears us up;God is our salvation.
Joshua 21:45 Not one word of all the good promises that the Lord had made to the house of Israel had failed; all came to pass.
The third way to prove faithful with our past memories is to focus on what God is doing now and what he will do in the future.
Isaiah 43 is so beautiful to illustrate this:
God is telling his people that he is doing a new thing now. He promises deliverance from Babylon but also a greater redemption from sin. In this chapter he reminds Israel what he's done for them, but also what he will do. Sins pardoned wholly and completely by the coming Messiah!
Remember God’s goodness, but live in the present and think of the future.